WASHINGTON - United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick
announced today that Kay Wilkie of the New York State Department of Economic
Development has been appointed to chair the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory
Committee (IGPAC), a statutory advisory committee that provides advice to the USTR on
trade agreements from the perspective of state and local governments. IGPAC is comprised
of representatives from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state,
county and municipal governments, as well as associations of state and local
officials.

"Kay Wilkie has an impressive depth of experience and first-hand
knowledge regarding the importance of trade for promoting growth, job opportunities,
and rising standards of living in her state, " Zoellick stated. "She will help the IGPAC
provide the type of timely input that we seek from states and localities in negotiating trade
agreements that will benefit America."

Wilkie, who has served on IGPAC since 2003, is a public official
responsible for New York’s international trade and investment efforts. Kay has
extensive expertise in trade policy and export promotion. She has served in leadership
positions for the Council of State Governments and the State International Development
Organization, as well as the Export Trade Advisory Council of the Appalachian Regional
Commission, which develops export plans for rural small businesses. Wilkie has also
served as USTR’s State Point of Contact for New York, designated by the Governor’s office
to coordinate input on trade matters for the state to USTR and disseminate pertinent
information received from USTR. She was also active in USTR consultations with the
State of New York during the Uruguay Round and North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) negotiations.

Background

USTR consults with states and localities on trade matters of
interest, and has several formal and informal mechanisms for federal-state cooperation and
consultation on trade policy. The IGPAC, part of USTR’s statutory advisory committee
system, is the committee charged with providing trade advice from the perspective
of states and localities. Under the Uruguay Round and NAFTA implementing
legislation, USTR also created the single State Point of Contact (SPOC) system, whereby
the Governor’s office in each state designates a single contact to coordinate state
trade policy input to the USTR. SPOCs regularly receive Federal Register Notices, press
releases, notifications and requests for advice on specific matters and are invited to
participate in briefings and meetings. Additionally, USTR officials frequently meet with
gatherings of state and local representatives around the country at their annual meetings and
conferences.